Lynne Stevens
With all attention being paid to the some of the most-controversial nominations for the Trump cabinet, it is important to also look into the less-publicized picks unnoticed by the public.
These lesser appointments can significantly change Americans lives – depending on who is at the helm.
The Environmental Protection Agency has many duties. Some of the agency’s mission statements directly relate to human health; environmental stewardship of natural resources; review of chemicals in the marketplace for safety; plus mitigate environmental risks to air, water and land contamination.
Here in Robbinsville, damage was being done to our own Franks Creek, and both the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and EPA descended on the property and stopped the damage from continuing requiring mitigation of the damage. Western North Carolina has a significant interest in keeping our rivers, streams and lakes free of pollution and harm.
Lee Zeldin – the former U.S. Representative in Suffolk County, N.Y. – has been tapped as EPA director. Although his district has some environmentally-sensitive areas, he is not known for being friendly to the environment.
His environmental voting record can be seen at scorecard.lcv.org. It is not a voting record one would expect in an EPA Director.
As a New York representative, Zeldin voted to cut EPA funding and minimize chemical risk assessments – plus block EPA from taking action to restrict carbon pollution. Can we interpret this to mean that the dangerous chemicals in our environment may not be analyzed for risk?
Zeldin’s district has some serious air pollution, yet he voted against air quality legislation most of the time. It is well documented that diminished air quality in suburban and urban areas significantly contributes to asthma and other respiratory illness. If informed, I suspect the public will object to loosen auto-emission standards. The health costs are just too high.
In a Fox News interview, Zeldin stated that Trump has given him a long list of regulations the oil industry wants to roll back. Trump has made no secret of his anti-climate, anti-regulation, pro-oil stance. The return of auto pollution will surely save the auto industry money. Do you believe the industry will pass savings on to you?
The American people voted for drilling on public lands with reduced emissions control, fewer rules on logging, lax rules for air and water pollution – plus ignoring the overwhelming science regarding climate change. Zeldin has paid more attention to what regulations will cost industry interests – as opposed to consideration of what is in the best interest the public and environment.
Zeldin will take his oath of office to the Constitution of the United States. Zeldin is a Trump loyalist and if asked to jump, he will likely obey without question – possibly to the point of compromising human health.
That is the unquestioning devotion to one man the voters wanted and the president-elect demands.
Lynne Stevens writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. She can be reached via email, geminga@mailfence.com.